The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-11-03
MRS. SMITHS WAY.
Why She Thought She Could
Never be q Missionary.
= Wise Little Woman's Sorrow for Hel
Netghbors Who Were Daily Killing
Themselves, aud who Would
Not Heed Her COunsels.

Not Heed Her COunsels.
One evening when Mr.. Smith came
home from work he found his wife
sitting alone in their coy parlor
that always presented the same neat
and tasteful appearance; some work
had fallen idly in her lap while her
chin rested on her hand and she had
become SO absorbed in thought that
she heard not the opening of the door
when he entered.
And wha, has put my Brownie in.
to such a brown study that she has
neither eyes nor ears for things of time
and senseP' inquired Mr.. Smith. after
standing in the doorway for about two
minutes watching his wife.
20, Ned," exclaimed Mrs. Smith,
starting up from her rcverie. Il never
could be a missionary. never"
well. | am glad to hear you say
So" said Mr.. Ned Smith, seating
himself beside his wife while broad
smile shonc over his countenance:
Il would be sorry to have you
leave me here alone, ] assure you,
and have no intention, myself. OF 60
ing to some distant cline to work
among the heathen."
Ned. You may laugh at me if you
will; you know l didn't think of heath.
Ell in foreign lands at all; but do feel
sorry for the people about us who are
daily killing themselves"
dear met calculated Mr.. Smith,
''who is committing suicide now?"
Our neighbor Mrs. Wilkins, and
many others beside" soberly respond.
ed Mrs. Smith.
Now you speak in riddles" said hel
husband. Il do not fathom the depth
Of your meaning
ut is only this, Ned: am saddened
at the thought of people working and
worrying over tribes"
why. Brownie. do you not think
trifles make perfection? and perfec.
ton is no triile.
Ned. l wish you would be serious
for once and listen to what say"
Mr. Smith drew on long face and
said: Now | am all serious attention
with mind wholly yours.
a man should have a mind Of hi.
own" was the saucy re;ort.
The mischievous expression came
again to Mr.. Smiths eyes as he replied
My mind is yours and you are mine
therefore my mind is my own. Now
Brownie, am going to be sober as ;
judge and listen most obedicntly Will.
you relate the cause of your sudden at
tack of profound meditation.
well, this afternoon began Mrs
Smith, Il was out calling OH ouu
neighbors, and went, first, across til,
street to Mrs. Wilkins, and found tina
parsonage lying down completely ex
hausted from oyerwork. She does al
her own work, and with their larg.
family that is no light task at the best
She is by nature strong woman, en-
ergetic and industrious, priding herself
on how much work she can do in /,
day. That, you know, is differen
from me. for try to accomplish
good deal by doing just as little as
can"
Il understand just what a sinsibl,
lazy wife have" said Mr.. Smith, witt
his face long drawn.
Brownie continued. Il had concci
enough to think myself able to inst, NC
her in the way of doing, and to con
vince her Of the truth that .whoeyc
might be better employed is idle Yes
terday she put a large washing out OF
the line, and when l went over to-da,
she had just finished ironing a grea
pile Of clothes, and was lying dow
from sheer exhaustion"
''And what was extraordinary Il
that?" asked MI. Smith. Il have scel
my Brownies white hands moyin.
swiftly over the ironing-board."
But my hands are not all hard an,
and roughened by drudsery. thinl
my hands and head are the more easil,
kept clean by wearing gloves and cal
when doing sweeping and such kind
Of work"
'.And perhaps Mrs. Wilkins isn't s.
fortunate in having kind. considerat
husband like Mrs. Brownie Smith"
''Of course not" was the emphatl
answer, land neither has Mr.. Wilkin
a wife SO awfully wise as Ned Smitl
has. Icsteem ourselves highly enough
to be very self-satisfed, but that ism
doing good to any one else"
''Oh, you want to be out performin,
some great public work, ambitious t,
be home missionary or something Q
the kind. am becoming enlightene,
now" AMI the smile spread itself owe
his face again.
Il had no thought Of missioning a
home or anywhere else," repliet
Brownie, with some spirit; but m,
afternoons experience made me thinl
what Il difficult work missionaries hat
10 do. and ! never could have faith ant
patience TO work a reform among PEG
pies prejudices. 1t does seem to M
that good, practical sense is one of tn
great needs Of the times. l am not 81
strong as Mrs. Wilkins, yet you hav'
never seen me day after day exhausted
by over-work. manage my worl
while Mrs. Wilkins work manage
her; that is the difference.
Il told her that when had q larg,
ironing to do, l did not try to iron ii
in one day; and then such articles a:
sheets. tea towels and the coarse un.
dergarmen;s were only put smoothly
through the clothes wringer, when
washed, then thoroughly dried. folded
aud put away tor uss. think thsy